Virtual Globes and Real Time Air Quality Information

A critical facet of the US EPA's mission is to protect public health. EPA is embracing new technologies to assist in fulfilling that mission. Virtual globes allow the Agency to furnish
real time air quality data and emissions information to the public through tools like Google Earth. By interfacing with a tool that is widely available and already in use by many citizens, EPA can more effectively communicate with the public. In turn, the public can get current air quality and health data that can help them avoid exposure to unhealthy air, as well as become more informed about their local environment.

Phil Dickerson received a BS in Computer Engineering from North Carolina University in 1991. He has been with the Environmental Protection Agency since that time. Phil was a founding member of the AIRNow realtime air quality team, serving as the IT advisor for the program since its inception in 1998. He was also part of the team that developed the EnviroFlash real-time notification system, providing the public with real-time alerts based on air quality forecasts. Currently, Phil is the AIRNow Program Director as part of his duties as Group Leader for the Information Transfer Group (ITG) in the Outreach and Information Division. ITG manages a number of data systems and web sites, serving as a test bed for new technologies such as virtual globes. He is currently leading the effort to build "AIRNow-International", sharing the expertise gained from the US AIRNow program with the rest of the world, through a pilot project with Shanghai, China.